Packaging for Digital Obliquely Stored Discs

ABSTRACT

The inventive packaging for a plurality of digital discs ( 10 ) comprises means for maintaining the discs ( 10 ) in a storage positions thereof, wherein said discs ( 10 ) extend on an oblique plane with respect to the packaging and is characterised in that it comprises a tray ( 20 ) which has a large surface provided with a disc reception area ( 30 ) arranged thereon, defined by a bottom ( 31 ) and comprising the edges ( 32, 34 ) and which also comprises means ( 40 ) for holding discs ( 10 ) inside the reception area ( 30 ) in the oblique storage position thereof, wherein the discs ( 10 ) extend on the oblique plane with respect to the bottom ( 31 ) in a partially spaced and overlapping manner.

The invention relates in general to packs for digital discs.

More precisely, the invention relates to a pack for a plurality of digital discs, such as audio CDs or CD-ROMs or else DVDs, comprising a platform having a large face in which a housing is arranged to receive the discs delimited by a bottom.

Packs of this type are known in the prior art, and particularly in European patent EP-B-0676763, which reveals a pack furnished with a housing whose bottom is divided into at least two zones of different levels, these two zones each receiving a disc and being placed so that the discs partially overlap.

These packs have the defect of being thick, since the discs are offset from one another vertically in order to be able to overlap. This defect is particularly awkward in the case of packs used to receive four or six discs, since all the discs are superposed on one another vertically, the total thickness of the pack corresponding to the cumulative thickness of all the discs.

In this context, the object of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned defect and propose a pack allowing a new mode of arrangement of the discs in the housing.

For this purpose, the pack of the invention comprises means for retaining the discs in respective storage positions, in which the discs extend in respective planes that are oblique to the pack.

But according to the invention, the pack comprises a rigid platform having a large face in which a housing is made to receive the plurality of discs, delimited by a bottom (real or hollowed), and having edges. This platform comprises means for retaining the discs inside this housing, in their respective oblique storage positions, in which the discs extend in respective planes oblique to the bottom, in a mutually spaced manner, partially overlapping. The pack of the invention may also have one or more of the following features:

The means for retaining the discs consist of at least one flexible holding tab, placed on an edge of the housing, arranged to hold one half, for example the upper half, of a disc, in an oblique position.

The retention means comprise two holding tabs placed on two opposite edges delimiting between them a zone for receiving the disc in an oblique position.

The holding tab comprises a protruding part extending towards the inside of the housing, whose size is chosen so that only the peripheral edge of the disc rests on the tab.

The protruding part extends at a distance above the bottom of the housing.

The holding tab comprises a means for retaining the disc in a storage position, for example in a direction perpendicular to the bottom.

The retention means is arranged to lock the disc in an oblique position, in a direction opposite to the bottom.

The holding tab is arranged for example with a flexible tongue, so that it can be flexed towards the outside of the housing, and that the peripheral edge of the disc can be released from the retention means.

The retention means comprise a tab or means for locking a lower part of the peripheral edge of the disc in an oblique position, for example in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the housing.

The retention means comprise a tab, made on an edge of the housing, for holding the upper part of the peripheral edge of the disc in an oblique position.

The discs in their respective storage positions are parallel to one another and spaced out.

The discs in their respective storage positions are aligned in a longitudinal direction.

The storage positions of the discs follow one another by translation in the longitudinal direction.

The housing is delimited by two opposite longitudinal edges extending in general directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, the retention means of at least certain discs comprising tabs made on the said longitudinal edges and supporting the said discs by respective peripheral zones of the latter.

The housing is divided into a plurality of zones for receiving a disc, each zone being delimited at least by two arc-of-circle segments of the two longitudinal edges placed opposite one another and supporting the tabs for holding the corresponding disc.

Each disc in the storage position has a transverse diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal direction connecting central portions of the two arc-of-circle edges of the corresponding zone, so that the disc cannot move in the longitudinal direction.

The retention means comprise means of retaining the discs in the storage position in a direction perpendicular to the bottom, these means being made on the longitudinal edges.

The retention means comprise at one longitudinal end of the housing a locking tab forming with the bottom a groove for locking a lower part of the peripheral edge of the disc occupying a corresponding end of the alignment of discs, this tab retaining the said disc in the direction perpendicular to the bottom.

The retention means comprise a central tab made on a transverse edge of the housing connecting the two longitudinal edges, this central tab holding the disc occupying a corresponding end of the alignment of discs by an upper part of its peripheral edge opposite the bottom.

Other features and advantages of the invention will clearly emerge from the description made thereof below, for indicative and in no way limiting purposes, with reference to the appended figures, amongst which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective in the upright or vertical position, and open, of a pack according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of a pack according to the invention, used for receiving two discs,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, for a pack or platform, capable of receiving three discs, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in a longitudinal mid-plane of the platform of FIG. 3, considered along the line of the arrows IV of FIG. 2,

FIGS. 5 and 6 represent schematically a digital disc as considered by the present invention, FIG. 5 being a view of the lower face of the said disc, and FIG. 6 being a partial view in section along the line VI-VI of FIG. 6,

FIG. 7 represents, seen from the front, another embodiment of a platform according to the invention, for receiving two discs 10,

FIGS. 8 and 9 represent partial sectional views, respectively along the sectional lines VIII-VIII and IX-IX, of the platform according to FIG. 7,

FIG. 11 represents in perspective a detail of the platform represented in FIG. 7,

FIG. 12 represents, seen from the front, another embodiment of a platform according to the invention, for receiving three discs 10,

FIGS. 13 and 14 represent partial sectional views, respectively along the sectional lines XIII-XIII and XIV-XIV, of the platform according to FIG. 12,

FIG. 15 represents in perspective a detail of the platform represented in FIG. 12.

The pack shown in FIG. 1 is intended to receive, and retain in a removable manner, a plurality of digital discs 10, for example audio CDs, video CDs, DVDS or CD-ROMS. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it comprises two parts, that is a first cardboard part 60, relatively supple or flexible, in any case pliable, generally having the form of the cover of a book, and a second, relatively rigid, part, made of plastic, for example thermoformed or injected, having the shape of a platform 20, which is more specifically the subject of the present invention, and which is fitted and attached inside the cardboard cover, by any appropriate means, for example by bonding.

The cardboard cover 60 comprises, in the manner of a book, a top flap 61 having an outer face 61 a and an inner face 61 b, a bottom flap 62 having an outer face 62 a and an inner face 62 b, and a spine 63 connected to the flaps 61 and 62, respectively by fold or articulation lines 64 and 65. For example, at least the outer faces 61 a and 62 a of the cover 60 may be printed or decorated appropriately.

The main function of the platform 20, described below, is to house and retain, but each in a removable manner, the plurality of digital discs 10. It is fitted and attached inside the cover 60, for example on the inner face 62 b of the lower flap 62, by any appropriate means, for example by bonding. When the flap 61 is folded over the platform 10, the cover 60/platform 10 assembly takes the form of a book, that can be stored, for example vertically, on a shelf.

It should be understood that the pack previously described is only one mode amongst others of packaging and protecting the platform 20, the latter being capable of belonging to other forms of pack, in particular for protecting and containing one or more platforms.

For the purpose of understanding the present invention, it should be noted that a digital disc comprises, generally, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6:

-   -   an upper face 79, usually inactive, used for example as a medium         for print or decoration,     -   a lower face comprising an active ring 71, in the sense that         digital signals are recorded on this lower face,     -   the disc comprising an axial hole 78 in the centre 70, for any         rotating means to pass through it in a meshed manner,     -   and a peripheral edge 11, that is inactive (because it comprises         no digital information), and is limited in radial extent on the         upper and lower faces, and thereby making, as shown more         particularly in FIG. 6, a bottom border 11 a, a bevel or edge 11         b, and a top border 11 c.

As described and defined hereinafter, the purpose of the present invention is to retain a digital disc 10, by some or all of its peripheral edge, treating gently the bottom active ring 71, and preferably with no additional retaining, thanks to a central rosette passing through the axial hole 78.

The platform 20 has a generally flat shape, not very thick, rectangular and has a first large face, or upper face, in which a housing 30 is hollowed out to receive the discs 10, delimited by a bottom 31.

The bottom 31 is flat, parallel to the large face of the platform, and extends at the same level in the whole housing 30, in particular without levels separated by a step.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the platform 20 comprises a flat centre 21 whose face inside the housing 30 defines the bottom 31 and of which an outer face defines a second large face, or lower face, of the platform, opposite the first.

The pack comprises means 40 for retaining, but removably, the discs 10, in respective storage positions, inside the housing 30, in which the discs 10 extend parallel and in a manner spaced apart from one another, but offset from one another, with one and the same direction of alignment XX of their respective centres 70, parallel to the inner face of the centre 21, and in respective planes oblique to the bottom 31.

Consequently, the stored discs 10 overlap partially, as shown in FIG. 3.

The retention means 40 described below, for example, alone perform the following functions:

-   -   a removable retention of each disc 10, the user being able to         detach and extract a single disc from the platform 20, without         first detaching and extracting the other disc or discs,     -   a retention of each disc 20, in an oblique position, by pressing         only against the peripheral edge 11 of the said disc, at at         least two upper points spaced from one another, and at a lower         level against the bottom 31 of the housing 30,     -   and a retention such that the active internal face or ring 71 of         each disc remains out of contact with the inner face of the         housing 30 and/or the upper face of the disc 10 immediately         adjacent and below.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show that the discs 10 in their respective storage positions, and in particular their centres 70, are aligned in a longitudinal direction X-X′ to form a row.

The storage positions of the discs 10 thus follow one another by translation in the longitudinal direction X-X′. The discs 10 are preferably evenly spaced in the longitudinal direction X-X′.

As shown in FIG. 4, each disc 10 rests on the bottom 31 by a lower part 111 of its peripheral edge 11, and extends obliquely from the said lower part 111 towards the right in the representation in FIG. 4, and in a direction perpendicular to the bottom 31 towards the opening of the housing 30.

An upper part 112 of the peripheral edge 11 of the disc is flush with the level of the opening of the housing 30, in the first large face, or upper face, of the platform 20.

The angle formed by the oblique plane of the disc 10 and the bottom 31 is acute and is a few degrees. It is usually between 0 and 100 and preferably between 3 and 60.

It varies according to the size of the platform 20 and the number of discs 10 placed in the housing 30. For a platform 19 centimetres long in the longitudinal direction X-X′, 13.5 centimetres wide in the transverse direction Y-Y′ perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and approximately 1 centimetre thick, capable of receiving three discs 10, the angle is approximately 4.5°.

In the remainder of the description, the position of the disc 10 situated at a first end of the row will be called the first position, the position of the disc 10 situated immediately beside the first position will be called the second position, the position immediately beside the second moving away from the first position will be called the third position, and so on to the second end of the row opposite the first.

As shown in FIG. 4, the disc 10 situated in the first position, at the left hand end in FIG. 4, partially overlaps the disc 10 situated in the second position, this disc itself partially overlapping the disc situated in the third position, and so on to the disc occupying the last position, which does not overlap any other disc.

The proportion of the disc 10 overlapped by the disc situated immediately ahead of it in the row depends on the size of the platform 20 and the number of discs placed in the housing.

For a platform 20 of the size mentioned hereinabove, receiving two discs 10 as in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, the disc situated in the first position overlaps the disc situated in the second position by approximately 50% of the diameter of the latter.

For a platform of the size mentioned hereinabove, receiving three discs as in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the disc situated in the first or second position overlaps the disc situated after it in the row by approximately 75% of the diameter of the latter, in the direction X-X′.

The housing 30 is delimited by two opposite longitudinal edges 32 extending in general directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X′ and by two transverse edges 34 connecting the two longitudinal edges 32 to two opposite longitudinal ends of the housing 30, these transverse edges each extending in a general transverse direction, substantially parallel to the aforementioned transverse direction Y-Y′.

More precisely, the housing 30 is divided into a plurality of reception zones 33 each capable of receiving a disc 10, shown by dot-and-dash lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, each zone being delimited at least by two arc-of-circle segments 321 of the two longitudinal edges 32 placed facing one another.

As can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, each longitudinal edge 32 is therefore divided into a succession of arc-of-circle segments 321 aligned longitudinally, each with a concavity turned towards the inside of the housing 30, two successive segments joining to form a pointed zone pointing towards the inside of the housing 30.

The two arc-of-circle segments 321 of the two longitudinal edges 32 placed facing one another delimiting one and the same zone 33 are concentric, and are inscribed on a circle with a radius very slightly larger than that of a disc 10.

The transverse edges 34 delimit the two reception zones 33 situated at the two ends of the housing 30, and are each shaped in an arc-of-circle connecting the two opposite arc-of-circle segments 321 delimiting the corresponding zone 33, each transverse edge being inscribed on the same circle as the two corresponding segments 321, and therefore having a radius very slightly greater than the radius of the disc 10 received in its zone.

It will be noted that, advantageously, each disc 10 in a storage position has a transverse diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X-X′ connecting central portions of the two arc-of-circle edges 321 of the corresponding zone 33, so that the disc 10 is prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction by portions of ends of arc-of-circle edges 321 forming the pointed zones of each longitudinal side of the said transverse diameter.

The retention means 40, previously defined functionally, of at least certain discs 10 comprise tabs 41 cut out or made on said longitudinal edges 32, elastic and able to be flexed towards the bottom 31 of the housing 30, and supporting the said discs 10 by the respective peripheral edges 11 of the latter.

The disc 10 situated in a given reception zone 33 is held by two tabs 41 placed on the two opposite arc-of-circle edges 321 delimiting the said zone.

These tabs 41 each comprise a part 411 protruding towards the inside of the housing 30 from the edge 321, small in size relative to the radius of the disc 10 so that only the peripheral edge 11 of the disc 10, supporting no digital information, rests on the tab 41, that is to say on its lower border 11 a (see FIG. 6).

The disc 10 in the storage position rests by the lower part 111 of its peripheral edge 11, and more precisely by its edge 11 b, on the bottom 31, and rests by two other parts of the same peripheral edge, more precisely its lower border 11 a, on the protruding parts 411 of the two tabs 41, these protruding parts 411 extending at a distance above the bottom 31, so that the disc 10 is held obliquely.

Preferably, the tabs 41 are placed along the longitudinal edges 32, so that they hold an upper half of the peripheral edge 11 of the disc 10, opposite to the lower part 111.

It is however possible to place the tabs 41 so that the latter hold the disc 10 by a lower half of its peripheral edge 11.

The retention means 40 further comprise means 42 for retaining the discs 10 in the storage position, in a direction perpendicular to the bottom 31, these means being made on the longitudinal edges 32.

These retention means typically consist of lugs, belonging to the tabs 411 respectively, protruding towards the inside of the housing 30, from the longitudinal edges 32, and situated immediately above the parts 411 protruding from the bottom 31. The peripheral edge 11 of the disc 10 comes to fit between the protruding part 411 and the lug, and is locked by this lug in a direction opposite to the bottom 31.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tabs 41 are made flexible, thanks to flexible tongues 43 respectively, made in the longitudinal edges 32 and each supporting a protruding part 411 and the corresponding lug 42.

These tongues 43 can be flexed towards the bottom and towards the outside of the housing 30, so that it is possible to retract the lugs 42 to release the peripheral edge 11 of the disc and extract the latter from the housing 30.

These tongues 43 are for example obtained by making two first parallel slots 431 in the longitudinal edges 32, of the two opposite longitudinal sides of the protruding part 411, and a third slot 432 under the protruding part 411, leading into the first two slots 431. “Under the protruding part 411” means that the third slot extends between the bottom 31 and the protruding part 411.

The retention means 40 further comprise, where appropriate, at one longitudinal end of the housing 30, a locking tab 44 forming with the bottom 31 a groove for locking a lower part 111 of the peripheral edge 11 of the disc 10 occupying the first position, this tab 44 retaining the said disc in the direction perpendicular to the bottom 31.

This locking tab 44 is formed in the middle of the transverse edge 34 of the housing 30, and protrudes towards the inside of the housing 30 from this edge; this tab extending slightly above the bottom 31, so that the said groove has a height slightly greater than the thickness of the disc 10.

Finally, the retention means 40 comprise, where appropriate, a central tab 45 made in the middle of the transverse edge 34 opposite to the locking tab 44, and therefore bordering the zone 33 for receiving the disc 10 situated in the last position. This central tab 45 protrudes towards the inside of the housing 30 from the said transverse edge 34, and holds the disc 10 occupying the last position by an upper part 112 of its peripheral edge 11, opposite to the bottom 31. The central tab is made at a distance above the bottom 31.

This central tab 45 may replace the two tabs 41 for holding the corresponding disc or may be in addition to these two tabs.

The result of the foregoing description, given as an example, is that:

a) it is the retention means 40, and them only, that retain and hold each disc 10 in an oblique position; except for the retention means, on contact, locked where necessary, the peripheral edge 11 of the disc 10 is free, and suspended above the bottom 31 of the housing 30,

b) these retention means 40, in this instance the tabs 41 and 45, are evenly distributed around the circular circumference, or the peripheral edge 11, of each disc 10,

c) and at least two tabs 41 retaining the upper half of the peripheral edge 11 of the disc 10 comprise retention means 42, for example lugs, for locking a disc 10 in an oblique position; while the flexibility of the same tabs 41 makes it possible to retract the retention means 42, and release the peripheral edge 11 of the disc so that it can be picked up.

This last feature (c), possibly in combination with at least one of the features (a) and (b), can be used to provide a storage of the discs 10, in the oblique position and superposed, but spaced apart, in a locked manner, while making it possible to release and extract each of them independently and easily, and to do so without taking the risk of damaging the active part of the said discs.

It will also be noted that ears 50 for picking up the discs 10 are hollowed out of the first large face, or upper face, of the platform 30, at the points where the longitudinal and transverse edges 32 and 34 meet, and emerge into the housing 30.

The platform 20 is usually made of plastic, in one piece, by injection in an appropriately shaped mould.

The pack described above may have multiple variants without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate two exemplary embodiments in which the housing receives two or three discs 10. Naturally, it is possible to provide for the housing to receive four discs 10 or more. This number is limited by the size of the platform 20, and by the proportion of overlap that can be accepted between two adjacent discs.

This acceptable proportion of overlap is limited essentially by the requirement by which it must be possible to release each disc 10 independently of the others, that is to say without having to move the others, or extract them from the platform 20.

For this, it must be possible to lift each disc by the upper part 112 of its peripheral edge 11, until its transverse diameter is released from the longitudinal edges 32. It can then be pulled longitudinally, in the direction X-X′. It must be possible for this operation to be carried out without the disc 10 touching with its lower face 71 the upper face 79 of the disc 10 that it partially overlaps.

It is therefore well understood that, if the discs make relatively larger angles with the bottom 31, and are relatively more spaced out from one another, it will be possible to release them more easily, and a greater degree of overlap between two discs 10 may thus be accepted.

On the other hand, if the discs make relatively smaller angles with the bottom 31, and are relatively less spaced out from one another, it will be less easy to release them and the degree of overlap between two discs will have to be smaller.

Naturally, provision can be made for the discs 10 to make angles with the bottom 31 that are different from one another. Similarly, the spacing between two discs 10 may be variable.

The tabs 41 for holding the discs may have any appropriate shape. They do not have to be flexible, but must for example be fixedly attached to the longitudinal edges.

The lugs or retention means 42 do not have to be mounted on flexible tabs 41, but must be fixedly attached to the longitudinal edges 32, the discs 10 being released from these lugs by the deformation of the lugs themselves, the lugs naturally being made in this case of a deformable material.

The retention means 40 may comprise several locking tabs 44 to retain the lower parts of the peripheral edges of several different discs. These locking tabs may be formed on the bottom 31 and protrude from this bottom to create grooves for the engagement of the disc edges.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 differs from that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4:

-   -   by the existence on the bottom 31 of a stop 90 comprising a         groove not shown, and suitable for receiving only the peripheral         edge 11 of the lower half of a disc 10 stored in the oblique         position,     -   by holding tabs 415 and 416 that are differentiated, and         different from those 41 previously described.

Each tab 415 can be used to snap in and hold the peripheral border of the disc 10, simply by pushing the latter towards the bottom 31, and to release this same border, by bending the said tab towards the bottom 31 and the outside of the housing 30, by pressing on the “push” part. For this purpose, the tab 415 has a composite but one-piece structure made of two radial shoulders 416, either side of an elastic blade 417 against the part 11 a of the peripheral border 11 of the disc 10.

Each tab 416 has a structure similar to the previously described tabs 41.

The tabs 415 and 416 are connected to the rest of the one-piece structure of the platform 20 by their lower, flexible parts.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 is used to store three discs 10, in an oblique position, with the tabs 41 on the platform 20, similar to the particular tabs 415 previously described.

It is therefore clearly understood that the pack described hereinabove has many advantages.

It is used to place several discs in one and the same housing, in a very compact manner, each disc being able to be removed independently without touching the others.

It is thus possible to house a large number of discs, four or more, in one and the same pack without greatly increasing the thickness and/or the length of this pack.

This result is achieved by very simple means. It does not use pivoting supports, provided additionally in the pack, mounted on the platform 20, pivoting supports that are both fragile and require costly installation operations. On the contrary, the pack of the invention is both extremely economical and extremely robust, since it dispenses with such pivoting supports.

The discs are held by their respective peripheral edges so that the pack does not use central rosettes for attaching the discs. This is an advantage, since these rosettes are costly and fragile. 

1. Rigid platform of rectangular general shape, comprising means for retaining a plurality of digital discs in respective storage positions, characterized in that it has a face in which a housing for receiving the discs is provided, having edges and in that said retention means are designed so as to removably keep each disc in an oblique position, and include a holding tab provided on a said edge, designed to support each said disc in an oblique position, and comprising a protruding part extending towards the inside of the housing the size of which is chosen so that the periperal edge of the disc rests on said protruding part.
 2. Platform according to claim 1, wherein the means for retaining each disc exclude any complementary means using a central rose.
 3. Platform according to claim 1, wherein the housing is delimited by a flat bottom extending to the same level in the entire said housing.
 4. Platform according to claim 1, wherein the protruding part extends at a distance above the bottom of the housing.
 5. Platform according to claim 1, wherein the retention means comprise two holding tabs placed on two opposite edges of the housings delimiting between them a zone for receiving the disc in an oblique position.
 6. Platform according to claim 1, wherein the holding tab of the retention means comprises a means for retaining the disc in an oblique storage position, in a perpendicular direction opposite to the bottom of the housing.
 7. Platform according to claim 6, wherein the retaining means is arranged to lock the disc in an oblique position.
 8. Platform according to claim 6, wherein the holding tabs is arranged so that it can be flexed towards the outside of the housing and the peripheral edge of the disc can be released from the retaining means.
 9. Platform according to claim 1, wherein the retention means comprise a tab or means for locking a lower part of the peripheral edge of the disc in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the housing.
 10. Platform according to claim 1, wherein the housing is divided into a plurality of zones for receiving a disc each zone being delimited at least by two circularly arcuate segments of two longitudinal edges placed opposite one another, and holding tabs for holding the corresponding discs.
 11. Platform according to claim 10, wherein each said zone is designed in such a way that each disc is prevented from moving in a longitudinal direction (XX′) of the platform.
 12. Platform according to claim 1, wherein the retention means are designed in such a way that, beyond them, the peripheral edge 11 of the disc 10 is free, and suspended above the bottom of the housing
 13. Rigid platform of rectangular general shape, comprising means for retaining a plurality of digital discs in respective storage positions, characterized in that it has a face in which a housing for receiving the discs is provided, having edges and in that said retention means are designed so as to removably keep a disc in an oblique position, said disc bearing, on the one hand, against said means at least two points on its peripheral edge that are spaced apart, and, on the other hand against the bottom of said housing.
 14. Pack for a plurality of digital discs, which includes a platforms according to claim
 1. 